Canadian Obesity Network
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Obesity Network-Réseau Canadien en l’Obésité (CON-RCO) is the primary Canadian network of obesity
researchers, health professionals and others with a professional interest in obesity. In Canada, like in many other parts of the world, obesity funding, research, prevention and treatment strategies remain uncoordinated in a fragmented population of players. CON-RCO aims to be Canada's leading professional organization dedicated to addressing the obesity epidemic. The Network was launched in March 2006 at McMaster University
, Hamilton, Ontario, with funding from the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada]. In April 2007 the 2006 Canadian clinical practice guidelines on the management and prevention of obesity in adults and children were published. In August 2007, CON moved to the University of Alberta
, Edmonton, Alberta In 2009 the Network had over 3500 registered members. The network is a registered not-for-profit corporation.
A brief video overview for CON is currently available.
The Scientific Director, Dr. Arya M. Sharma, holds a Chair in Obesity Research and Management at the University of Alberta
. Dr. Sharma recently co-authored a proposed clinical staging system for obesity and an editorial on regulating commercial weight-loss programs.
CON-RCO Mission: To reduce the burden of obesity on Canadians by linking obesity researchers with health professionals, policy makers and other stakeholders to foster knowledge translation, capacity building and partnerships.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:
1 Knowledge Translation: To promote exchanges between researchers, health professionals, policy makers and other stakeholders that yield innovative and effective obesity prevention and treatment solutions.
2 Capacity Building: To increase interdisciplinary capacity among future obesity researchers and health professionals in Canada.
3 Networking/Partnerships: To create national and international partnerships across sectors to translate research, build capacity and generate solutions to fight the obesity epidemic.
Chair: Anton Hart, Publisher & CEO, Longwoods Publishing Corporation http://www.longwoods.com
Scientific Director: Dr. Arya M. Sharma
, Chair Holder Obesity Research and Management, University of Alberta
Arun Chockalingam, Director of Global Health, Secretary General-Elect, World Hypertension League
Dr. Diane Finegood, Professor, School of Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University
Francy Pillo-Blocka, President & CEO, The Canadian Council of Food and Nutrition
Irving Gold, Vice President, Government Relations and External Affairs, Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
Lyne Sauvageau, Vice-présidente aux programmes, Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture
Marsha Sharp, CEO, Dietitians of Canada
Michael Cloutier, CEO, Creative Outcome Technologies Inc.
Dr. Kim Raine, Professor, Centre for Health Promotion Studies, School of Public Health, University of Alberta
Philip Donne, President, Campbell Company of Canada
Allison Venner, Student Representative, PhD Candidate, University of Calgary
Stephen Samis, Director, Health Policy, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Dr. Sylvie Stachenko, Dean, School of Public Health, University of Alberta
Tom Clandinin, Professor, Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta; Network Host Representative
SCIENCE COMMITTEE
The Science Committee advises the Scientific Director and the Board of Directors on research, knowledge translation and capacity building strategies, in accordance with the Network goals and the overarching directions set out by the Board of Directors.
Kim Raine, PhD, RD, Chair Director and Professor, Centre for Health Promotion Studies, University of Alberta
Paul Belanger, Assistant Director Ottawa, Institute of Nutrition Metabolism and Diabetes, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Katherine Cianflone, PhD, Professeure, Canada Research Chair in Adipose Tissue, Université Laval
Lisa Sullivan, Manager, Canadian Population Health Inititative, Canadian Institute for Health Information
Alejandro Jadad, MD/DPhil, FRCPC, Professor of Medicine, Canada Research Chair in eHealth Innovation, University of Toronto
Ian Janssen, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Health & Epidemiology, School of Kinesiology & Health Studies, Queen’s University
Jennifer Kuk, Student and New Professional Representative, Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University
Anthony Levinson, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of e-Learning Innovation, McMaster University
David Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chair Diabetes and Endocrine Research Group
The next National Obesity Summit will take place in Montreal, Quebec from April 28 to May 1, 2011.
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
researchers, health professionals and others with a professional interest in obesity. In Canada, like in many other parts of the world, obesity funding, research, prevention and treatment strategies remain uncoordinated in a fragmented population of players. CON-RCO aims to be Canada's leading professional organization dedicated to addressing the obesity epidemic. The Network was launched in March 2006 at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, Hamilton, Ontario, with funding from the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada]. In April 2007 the 2006 Canadian clinical practice guidelines on the management and prevention of obesity in adults and children were published. In August 2007, CON moved to the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, Edmonton, Alberta In 2009 the Network had over 3500 registered members. The network is a registered not-for-profit corporation.
A brief video overview for CON is currently available.
The Scientific Director, Dr. Arya M. Sharma, holds a Chair in Obesity Research and Management at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
. Dr. Sharma recently co-authored a proposed clinical staging system for obesity and an editorial on regulating commercial weight-loss programs.
CON-RCO Mission: To reduce the burden of obesity on Canadians by linking obesity researchers with health professionals, policy makers and other stakeholders to foster knowledge translation, capacity building and partnerships.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:
1 Knowledge Translation: To promote exchanges between researchers, health professionals, policy makers and other stakeholders that yield innovative and effective obesity prevention and treatment solutions.
2 Capacity Building: To increase interdisciplinary capacity among future obesity researchers and health professionals in Canada.
3 Networking/Partnerships: To create national and international partnerships across sectors to translate research, build capacity and generate solutions to fight the obesity epidemic.
Board of Directors and the Science Committee
BOARD OF DIRECTORSChair: Anton Hart, Publisher & CEO, Longwoods Publishing Corporation http://www.longwoods.com
Scientific Director: Dr. Arya M. Sharma
Arya Mitra Sharma
Arya Mitra Sharma, MD/PhD, FRCPC, is Professor of Medicine and currently holds the Chair in Obesity Research and Management at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is also the Medical Director of the regional bariatric program and Clinical co-chair of the Provincial Bariatric...
, Chair Holder Obesity Research and Management, University of Alberta
Arun Chockalingam, Director of Global Health, Secretary General-Elect, World Hypertension League
Dr. Diane Finegood, Professor, School of Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University
Francy Pillo-Blocka, President & CEO, The Canadian Council of Food and Nutrition
Irving Gold, Vice President, Government Relations and External Affairs, Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
Lyne Sauvageau, Vice-présidente aux programmes, Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture
Marsha Sharp, CEO, Dietitians of Canada
Michael Cloutier, CEO, Creative Outcome Technologies Inc.
Dr. Kim Raine, Professor, Centre for Health Promotion Studies, School of Public Health, University of Alberta
Philip Donne, President, Campbell Company of Canada
Allison Venner, Student Representative, PhD Candidate, University of Calgary
Stephen Samis, Director, Health Policy, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Dr. Sylvie Stachenko, Dean, School of Public Health, University of Alberta
Tom Clandinin, Professor, Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science, University of Alberta; Network Host Representative
SCIENCE COMMITTEE
The Science Committee advises the Scientific Director and the Board of Directors on research, knowledge translation and capacity building strategies, in accordance with the Network goals and the overarching directions set out by the Board of Directors.
Kim Raine, PhD, RD, Chair Director and Professor, Centre for Health Promotion Studies, University of Alberta
Paul Belanger, Assistant Director Ottawa, Institute of Nutrition Metabolism and Diabetes, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Katherine Cianflone, PhD, Professeure, Canada Research Chair in Adipose Tissue, Université Laval
Lisa Sullivan, Manager, Canadian Population Health Inititative, Canadian Institute for Health Information
Alejandro Jadad, MD/DPhil, FRCPC, Professor of Medicine, Canada Research Chair in eHealth Innovation, University of Toronto
Ian Janssen, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Health & Epidemiology, School of Kinesiology & Health Studies, Queen’s University
Jennifer Kuk, Student and New Professional Representative, Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University
Anthony Levinson, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of e-Learning Innovation, McMaster University
David Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chair Diabetes and Endocrine Research Group
National Obesity Summit
The first National Obesity Summit was held May 7–10 at the Delta Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta. This was Canada's first "all-obesity" meeting and was a huge success. Almost 500 delegates attended the conference, which surpassed the venues capacity. Researchers, practitioners and other stakeholders from a wide range of disciplines and interests came to Kananaskis to share with and learn from their peers in a unique and interactive environment. The oral presentations, poster sessions, workshops and seminars represented a fascinating cross-section of thought and novel findings on many of the key issues in obesity today. Plenary Sessions included: 1) Obesity and Mental Health, 2) Behavioural and Biological Determinants of Obesity, 3) Obesity Management and 4) Health Economics & Policy of Obesity. Please see the final programme for further details.The next National Obesity Summit will take place in Montreal, Quebec from April 28 to May 1, 2011.